pixie
nounUS, UK /ˈpɪksi/
Etymology Uncertain; 17thC, originally in the folklore of southwest England; perhaps diminutive of dialectal Swedish pysk (“fairy”), though the transmission of a Swedish dialect term to southwest Britain is unexplained; perhaps Puck (“Robin Goodfellow”) + -sy; see Wikipedia.
1
Fantasy, Human sciences, Literature, Media, Mysticism, Mythology, Philosophy, Publishing, Sciences A playful sprite or elflike or fairy-like creature.
- The writer in the Quarterly Review, vol xxii., gives a long list of words which he regards as connected with Puck: the editor of Warton adds German Spuk and Danish Spoge and Spogelse: we will contribute the Scottish Pauky, and the Devonshire Pixies, or Fairies.1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume II, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 119:
- Then she saw pixies — dozens and dozens of pixies — dancing and singing.2005, Dan Keding, “The Pixies’ Bed”, in Dan Keding, Amy Douglas, editors, English Folktales, page 98:
3 more examples
- When she looked around, Mary saw four pixies flying toward her. She had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Then the pixies turned around and attacked again.2005, Kathryn Reyes, Mystery Door Manor and the Dragon Realm, page 72:
- The servant that had raised him, an elderly pixie called Rolog, had died. On his deathbed he had called the young Captain to his side. Seeing the pixie dying had had no effect on him.2007, Jeremy Phillips, The Wizardon Star, page 165:
- Tiffy froze as the two pixies looked directly into each other's eyes. Then Tiffy raised her hand and said, “Hi, I'm Tiffy the Tooth Fairy.” Even though the other pixie lifted her hand too, she didn't answer.2010, Sandra A. Filbin, The Enchanted World: A Tooth Fairy's Tale, page 49:
2
Slang A cute, petite woman with short hair.
- Then a pixie appears in the visitor window, round face, big brown eyes framed in thick liner, a tiny turned-up nose, red lips, inch-long blue-black hair so popular with the avant-garde.2006, Darnell Arnoult, Sufficient Grace, page 186:
- Petite and narrow-waisted, with a pixie flip of hair the exact color of coffee beans, Abigail could easily pass for sixteen in a pair of ripped jeans and an Abercrombie T-shirt.2009, Nicole Baart, The Moment Between, page 1:
2 more examples
- Petite in the extreme, not even reaching five feet tall, Winchester at her most robust had approached one hundred pounds. No longer the bright-eyed, sophisticated pixie that Isaiah Taber had photographed so many years earlier, Winchester showed a different picture altogether as she lay dying, her fingers and toes knotted and knurled from years of destruction by the painful arthritis.2010, Mary Jo Ignoffo, Captive of the Labyrinth: Sarah L. Winchester, Heiress to the Rifle Fortune, page 196:
- Like magic, Carla transformed from the dainty pixie into a hardcore, no-nonsense businesswoman right before his eyes.2011, L. E. Newell, Durty South Grind, page 138:
3
Astronomy, Climatology, Meteorology, Natural sciences An upper-atmospheric optical phenomenon associated with thunderstorms, a short-lasting pinpoint of light on the surface of convective domes that produces a gnome.
4
A butterfly of the genus Melanis.
5
Abbreviation, Ellipsis Ellipsis of pixie cut.
- “Have you thought about a haircut? A pixie or a bob?”2016, Susan Wiggs, Starlight on Willow Lake, page 114:
- In a picture posted to Instagram on June 28, the stylish star [Lizzo] showed off her new, lighter brows and a blonde pixie that we suspect comes courtesy of a wig but can't be sure.2021 June 29, Elizabeth Logan, “Lizzo Just Got a Blonde Pixie and Bleached Her Eyebrows”, in Glamour:
- Derived terms
- bixie, manic pixie dream girl, pixie boot, pixie cup, pixie cut, pixie dust, pixie-faced, pixie hawkfish, pixieing, pixieish, pixie-lead, pixie-led, pixielike, pixie moss, pixieness, pixie ring, pixie stick, pixie-stool, pixilated, pixillated, pixilation, pixiness